EP0363234A1 - Personal equipment safety device for protection against dropping - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises a harness fixed to the first end of a rope (2), the second end of which is connected to a fastening member (3) capable of being temporarily attached to an anchoring point (10) located above the user. The fastening member (3) is an annular hook composed of a fixed arm (12) substantially in the form of a C and of a movable arm (13) comprising an outer free end (13'b) which, on one of its edges, has locking means (15) and, on its opposite edge, a blocking indentation (24) while the lower free end (12b) of the C of the fixed arm (12) has locking means (16) which are complementary to the means (15) and a passage (22) which passes through, intersecting the space occupied by the outer end (13'b) of the movable arm (13) when it is locked on the fixed arm (12), the said second end of the rope (2) being attached to the hook (3) by introduction into the said passage (22) of a suspension ring (5) which is housed in the blocking indentation (24) of the movable arm (13) in a locking position and prevents opening of the hook (3) while the ring (5) is not relieved from all traction.

Description

The present invention relates to a safety device for personal fall protection equipment of the type comprising a harness fixed to the first end of a rope, the second end of which is connected to a hooking member capable of being temporarily joined to a anchor point located above the user.

Elevation work carried out on the external parts of constructions (buildings, structures or civil engineering works) always requires compliance with strict safety conditions for personnel and, in particular, the wearing of personal protective equipment against falls, such as a harness.

This equipment is generally used by construction, renovation, cleaning, insulation, carpentry, carpentry, etc. companies, as well as by all those who must work on the facade or roof.

Fixing to the building can be done either by means of assemblies using construction elements, such as balconies, openings, structural components, etc., or by means of special anchors in the masonry.

It goes without saying that the safety device must be reliable, that it must not hamper the development of the personnel who are equipped with it and that its use must be extremely simple, any complication being likely to encourage the personnel to neglect the instructions. of security.

The present invention makes it possible to meet these requirements, in a satisfactory manner, by proposing a device of the aforementioned type which is characterized in that the hooking member is a hook with rapid opening and closing, in the form of a ring composed of a fixed branch having substantially the shape of a C and a branch mobile, articulated on the fixed branch and pivoting inside thereof, said movable branch having two free ends called, respectively, internal and external, said external free end offering, on one of its edges, means of locking and, on its opposite edge, a locking notch, while the lower free end of the C of the fixed branch offers, on the one hand, complementary locking means to those of the movable branch and, on the other hand , a through passage intersecting the space occupied by the locking end of the movable branch when it is locked on the fixed branch, said second end of the rope being joined to the hook by introduction of a means for suspending said rope in said through passage, which suspension means is housed in the blocking notch of the movable branch in the locked position and prohibits the opening of the hook as long as the suspension means are t not relieved of any traction.

Thanks to this structure, as long as the suspension means rests in the locking notch of the movable branch - which it does under the effect of its own weight and that of the rope - it cannot occur accidental opening of the hook, even if the means for disengaging the locking means are actuated.

Admittedly, quick opening and closing hooks were produced prior to the invention, as shown for example in document US-A-3,167,346. However, these hooks, designed for other uses, would not provide the desired security in the application referred to here. Thus, the hook described in US-A-3,167,346 which is designed to reassemble a canoe on board a boat, is suspended from a winch cable crossing the upper free end of the C of its fixed branch, while the The load suspension member - of the boat - is threaded into the hook. Locking takes place by means of a ratchet subjected to the effect a spring tending to keep it in the closed position, an effect which can be counteracted and overcome by pulling on a cord. There is no way to prevent accidental opening of the hook if, inadvertently, a pull is exerted on the cord, which can happen if a user steps on the hanging cord or if it hangs. in an obstacle.

In a practical embodiment of the invention, the articulation, between the movable branch and the fixed branch, takes place by means of a pivot axis passing through the upper free end of the C of the fixed branch and by an intermediate point of the mobile branch, the part of the mobile branch extending between the articulation point and its internal free end forming an arm for gripping the anchoring point, the pivoting of the mobile branch in order to lock the hook, against the force of a spring which tends to keep the hook open, resulting from the support exerted by the anchor point on the gripping arm when they are in contact with each other other and that a pull downwards is exerted on the hook.

Thus, it suffices for the user to hook the anchor point with the gripping arm and to exert a traction so that the hook closes and locks.

In a preferred embodiment, the fixed branch of the hook is mounted at the end of a maneuvering pole which can be telescopic. The advantage of this measure is as follows: it may happen that personnel are required to work at a certain distance from possible anchoring points. It is therefore important that he can remotely maneuver the attachment member of his individual equipment without it being necessary for him to perform acrobatics or significant efforts. This pole, by extending its radius of action, allows the user to be autonomous.

In practice, the fixed branch of the hook consists of the union of two symmetrical plates spaced apart by a sufficient distance to allow the movable branch to slide freely between them, and the means for locking the fixed and movable branches consist of toothed zones forming a rack.

More specifically, the toothed zone of the fixed branch is formed on a part pivotally mounted between the two fixed plates, against the force of a return spring, an operating cord being joined, directly or indirectly, to said part to rotate it, thereby freeing the toothed areas of the two branches from each other.

Rack locking is much safer than a simple snap closure, as described in US-A-3,167,346: it suffices that the start of the toothed zones is engaged for locking to occur and for it to occur. continues over the entire extent of the rack as a result of the traction exerted on the hook. Even if material debris is interposed between the movable branch and the fixed branch, this will not prevent locking from occurring at least on most of the rack. On the contrary, in the hook according to US-A-3 167 346, debris interposed between the movable and fixed parts can prevent locking or lead to a pseudo-locking which "will drop" as soon as the traction exceeds a certain threshold.

To avoid any risk of tangling of the cord and to protect it from any external action, the cord passes inside the pole and emerges at the end of the latter opposite the hook.

In a preferred embodiment, the fixed branch of the hook has, facing the pivoting part or a part functionally joined thereto, a through cutout and this cutout discovers a trigger formed in said piece , thus allowing manual unlocking at this level.

This arrangement is particularly useful for users who have an essentially vertical movement during their work, such as workers on electric pylons: in fact, they hang the hook well above them thanks to the pole, and their progression in height finally bring them to the hook. The trigger allows them to unhook the hook directly, and the pole to hang it up higher. On the descent, it is by pulling on the cord, at the bottom of the pole, that they release the hook from the anchor point.

In practical terms, the internal end of the movable arm has an end-of-travel notch which, in the open position, abuts against the means for suspending the rope and the hook also comprises a reinforcement means of the fixed branch consisting of a transverse axis mounted between the two plates constituting it and against which abuts, in the closed position, the internal end, shaped as a hook of the movable branch.

• - la figure 1 représente une vue générale du dispositif selon l'invention, en situation ;
• - la figure 2 représente une vue en coupe longitudinale de l'organe d'accrochage selon l'invention, en position d'ouverture partielle ;
• - la figure 3 représente une vue en coupe longitudinale de l'organe d'accrochage de la figure 2, en position de fermeture ;
• - la figure 4 représente une vue en coupe latérale prise selon la ligne IV-IV de la figure 3, et
• - la figure 5 représente une vue en coupe longitudinale d'une variante d'exécution du dispositif selon l'invention.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description below made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• - Figure 1 shows a general view of the device according to the invention, in situation;
• - Figure 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the attachment member according to the invention, in the partially open position;
• - Figure 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the fastening member of Figure 2, in the closed position;
• FIG. 4 represents a side sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3, and
• - Figure 5 shows a longitudinal sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention.

If we refer to Figure 1, we see a worker wearer of a safety harness 4 connected to an anchor point 1. This anchor point 1, given its height, is not directly accessible to the worker. The device proposed by the invention nevertheless allows it to connect its harness 4 to it by means of a rope or lifeline 2 provided with a suspension ring 5 connected to a hook 3 with quick closing and opening. This hook 3 is carried by a pole 6 which allows the worker to raise it to the desired level and, with the hook open, to hook the anchor point. As described in detail below, the hook is closed by pulling on the pole 6 and its opening can be controlled by means of a cord 20 passing inside the pole 6 and the end of which is provided with 'a handle 7.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hook 3 is made up of a fixed branch 12 and a movable branch 13.

The fixed branch 12 is C-shaped (inverted in the figures) with an upper end 12a and a lower end 12b, the end 12a passing through an anchor flange 10 which is provided with the anchor point 1 .

The movable branch 13 is pivotally mounted on the fixed branch 12 by means of a pivot axis 14 passing through the upper end 12a of the fixed branch 12 and through an intermediate point of the movable branch 13, thus defining an internal arm 13a and an outer arm 13b. The movable branch 13 thus has an internal end 13′a and an external end 13′b.

The internal arm 13a forms a gripping arm for the anchor flange 10. The closing pivot is effected by pressing the anchor flange 10 against this internal arm 13a which, under the effect of a traction exerted on the pole 6, pivots around the axis 14 until the external end 13′b of the external arm 13b of the movable branch 13 comes to lock in the lower end 12b of the fixed branch 12.

To this end, the hook 3 includes means for power locked in the closed position. These locking means are constituted, on the one hand, by an external toothed face 15 of the external end 13′b of the movable branch 13 and, on the other hand, by a toothed part 16 mounted in a housing 17 provided in the lower end 12b of the fixed branch 12.

The teeth of the face 15 are inserted between the teeth of the part 16 to hold the two ends 13′b and 12b integral.

An elastic return device is provided which comprises a first spring 18 associated with the pivot axis 14 and which is fixed both to the upper end 12a of the fixed branch and to the movable branch 13, and a second spring 19 associated with the toothed part 16 while being disposed under said part to give it vertical elasticity.

The spring 18 tends to return the external end 13′b upwards (opening of the hook) while the spring 19 tends to press the part 16 against the face 15 to keep the ends 13′b and 12b integral with each other (closing hook).

The cord 20 is connected to the toothed part 16. Instead of a cord, one could use, as an opening means intended to release the locking means, a pull tab made of a rigid or flexible material. To free the end 13′b from the grip of the part 16, it would suffice, in the absence of the safety means provided by the invention, to pull the cord 20 downwards, with, for effect, the compression of the spring 19 and the disengagement of the teeth from the face 15 from those of the part 16. When unlocking, the spring 18 automatically recalls the arm 13b upwards which allows the hook 3 to be easily removed from the anchoring flange 10.

The cord 20, which has a length at least equal to that of the pole 6, preferably passes inside the said pole, which can be telescopic. The pole 6 allows the hook 3 to be operated remotely and in particular to hook the anchor flange 10 on which it is desired to ensure.

The hook 3 has a through passage 22 formed in the fixed branch 12 above the location of the part 16. This through passage 22 allows the introduction of the suspension means 5, in this case the suspension ring 5, rope 2 connected to the harness 4. Instead of being constituted by a ring, the suspension means 5 could be constituted by a link or a carabiner.

The safety means to which reference is made above consist, on the one hand, of the suspension ring 5 itself and by a locking notch 24 formed on the internal face opposite the toothed face 15 of the internal end 13′b of the movable branch 13. These two structures 5 and 24 cooperate in the closed position, in that the ring 5 is housed in the locking notch 24 by exerting pressure on the movable branch 13 vertical which prevents unlocking even if, by accident, traction is exerted on the cord 20. This is true even if the harness wearer suddenly loses balance and falls because the rope or lifeline 2 is suddenly put under tension by the weight of the individual at the end of the line and the ring 5 presses strongly on the notch 24, preventing any opening of the hook 3.

The opening can only be obtained voluntarily by pulling on the cord 20 while relieving the ring 5 of any traction. To do this, the rope 2 can be jolted upwards and, if necessary, hit the inside of the arm 13b against the anchor flange 10, using the pole 6, to help the opening.

The safety means is completed by a series of teeth 16 ′ formed in the lower end 12b of the fixed branch 12 on the upper face of the front edge of the housing 17 of the part 16. This series of teeth 16 ′ is not not normally found in contact with the teeth of the face 15, but only in the event of an accidental fall if, under impact, the spring 19 were to compress suddenly to let the end 13′b escape and if, for an unlikely reason, the ring 5 also jumped from the notch 24.

In the fully open position, the internal end 13′a of the mobile branch 13 comes into contact with said ring 5 which thus acts as a stop for the mobile branch 13. To this end, the end 13′a is shaped hook whose hollow 23 is intended to receive the upper part of the ring 5. It is understood that the hook 3 is never at rest in the partial open position shown in Figure 2 for clarity of the drawing. When the hook is unlocked, the recess 23 abuts against the ring 5, under the effect of the spring 18, so that the hook is wide open.

The fixed branch 12 also includes a reinforcement means consisting of a transverse axis 25 disposed at the same level as the pivot axis 14, ie substantially in the middle of the fixed branch 12.

This axis 25 forms a stop in the closed position for a notch 26 formed on the outer edge of the inner arm 13a of the movable branch 13.

The cooperation between the transverse axis 25 and the notch 26 makes it possible to obtain a correct position of the toothed face 15 on the toothed part 16, that is to say that all the teeth of the part 16 are effectively engaged between those of face 15.

As shown in FIG. 4, the fixed branch 12 is produced by the union of two symmetrical parallel plates (12 ′, 12˝) spaced apart by a sufficient distance to allow the internal arm 13a of the movable branch 13 to slide freely during the closing and opening pivoting.

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the hook. The parts common to this variant and to the embodiment shown in Figures 2 to 4 are designated by the same references and they will not be described again.

The variant differs from the previous embodiment by the fact that it includes a trigger system enabling the hook 3 to be unlocked by acting on said hook. More specifically, the part 16 ‴, carrying the teeth adapted to cooperate with the teeth 15, is pivotally mounted about an axis 30. A leaf spring 31 tends to keep it in abutment against a stop 32. The part 16 ‴ is on the other hand capable of being urged, against the force of the spring, by a part 33 pivotally mounted around an axis 34 and capable of being itself urged by the cord 20. The part 16 ‴ has a cutout 27 vis-à-vis partial through cutouts 28 formed in the plates 12 ′ and 12˝ constituting the fixed branch 12 of the hook. These through cutouts 28 and the cutout 27 allow the finger to pass through the hook and to exert pressure on the part 29 of the part 16 ‴, visible through the cutouts 28, and to directly overcome the action of the spring 31 to unlock the hook.

The hook according to the invention is made of any material which is strong enough to withstand the force which the fall of the wearer of the equipment can cause, such as, for example, metal, reinforced resin, etc.

In the case where it is required that the hook has a large diameter and that it is able to support a load of two tonnes for example, it may be necessary to reinforce it by means of complementary locking pieces depending respectively on the end bottom of the fixed branch and the outer end of the movable branch, said parts also serving anchoring to a steel sling (or to a rope or a flat steel strap) along, with appropriate guidance, the periphery of the hook, opening area excluded.

The device according to the invention can be used for all types of work, whether in building or industry, for pruning trees, work on pylons, towers, bridges, chimneys of the Electricity type. of France.

Claims (10)

1 - Safety device for individual fall protection equipment of the type comprising a harness (4) fixed to the first end of a rope (2) the second end of which is connected to a hooking member (3) capable of '' be temporarily joined to an anchor point (10) located above the user, characterized in that the hooking member (3) is a hook with quick opening and closing, in the form of a compound ring a fixed branch (12) having substantially the shape of a C and a mobile branch (13), articulated on the fixed branch and pivoting inside the latter, said mobile branch having two free ends called , respectively, internal (13′a) and external (13′b), said external free end (13′b) offering, on one of its edges, locking means (15) and, on its opposite edge, a locking notch (24), while the lower free end (12b) of the C of the fixed branch (12b) offers, on the one hand, locking means (16) complementary to those (15) of the movable branch (13) and, on the other hand, a through passage (22) intersecting the space occupied by the external end (13 ′ B) of the movable branch (13) when it is locked on the fixed branch (12), said second end of the rope being joined to the hook (3) by introduction of a suspension means (5) of said rope (2) in said through passage (22), which suspension means (5) is housed in the locking notch (24) of the movable branch (13) in the locked position and prohibits the opening of the hook (3 ) as long as the suspension means (5) is not relieved of any traction. 2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the articulation, between the movable branch (13) and the fixed branch (12), is done, by means of a pivot axis (14) passing through the end upper free (12a) of the C of the fixed branch (12) and by an intermediate point of the movable branch (13), the part (13a) of the movable branch extending between the articulation point (14) and its internal free end (13′a) forming an arm for gripping the anchor point (10), pivoting of the movable branch (13) for locking the hook, against the force of a spring (18) which tends to keep the hook open, resulting from the support exerted by the anchor point (10) on the gripping arm (13a) when they are in contact with each other and a pull downwards is exerted on the hook (3). 3 - Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fixed branch (12) of the hook is mounted at the end of a maneuvering pole (16). 4 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized the fixed branch (12) consists of the meeting of two symmetrical plates (12 ′, 12˝) spaced apart by a sufficient distance to allow free sliding, between them, of the mobile branch (13). 5 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the locking means of the fixed (12) and mobile (13) branches consist of toothed zones (16, 15) forming a rack. 6 - Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the toothed area of the fixed branch is formed on a part (16) pivotally mounted between the two fixed plates (12 ′, 12˝), against the force d '' a return spring (19), an operating cord (20) being joined, directly or indirectly, to said part (16) to rotate it thereby freeing one from the other the toothed zones (15, 16 ) of the two branches. 7 - Device according to claims 3 and 6 considered jointly, characterized in that the cord (20) passes inside the pole (6) and opens at the end thereof opposite the hook (3). 8 - Device according to any one of Claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the fixed branch (12) has, through the pivoting part (16 ‴) or a part functionally joined thereto, a through cutout (28) and in that this cutout (28) discovers a trigger (29) formed in said part (16 ‴), thus allowing manual unlocking at this level. 9 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the internal end (13′a) of the movable branch (13) comprises a limit-switch notch (23) which, in the position of opening, abuts against the suspension means (5) of the rope (2). 10 - Device according to any one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the hook (3) further comprises a reinforcing means of the fixed branch (12) consisting of a transverse axis (25) mounted between the two plates (12 ′, 12˝) constituting it and against which abuts, in the closed position the internal end (26), shaped as a hook of the movable branch (12).

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